NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio -- On July 2, North Ridgeville City Council voted to place a $5 million bond issue for an aquatic center on the November ballot. The approval passed unanimously on a first reading.

Mayor David Gillock said: "I am very excited to be able to put this on the ballot and give our residents an opportunity to vote on this improvement. When we've done our surveys, it is the second most-requested item after the recreation center."

The aquatic center is a smaller project than a full-sized recreation center and is designed to be open only in the summer.

Gillock said the location of the aquatic center would be in the area east of the library, near South Central Park.

"(If the issue passes in November), we would start the design phase immediately. We are not sure yet how long that would take," he said.

Some of the features of the aquatic center would include a six-lane lap pool; a water activity pool for children, which would be 2 1/2 feet deep and include a slide, a "lazy river" 3 1/2 feet deep and 350 feet long; one or two water slides with a plunge pool at the bottom; a pool house; all the mechanics needed for the center's water elements; a concession stand; a party room; and a locker room.

With the unanimous vote from council, Gillock said positive attitudes abound and there have been no real negative responses.

"The only (adverse) comments have been some who say they would prefer an indoor pool," he said.

He noted that studies show that an indoor pool has drawbacks: a significant drop in usage compared to an outdoor aquatic center, which is designed to be sustained through the revenue generated.

"There would be less usage, especially in the summer, but even in the winter when kids are in school. Plus, it would be way more expensive to build and to operate and we would need a year-round staff," he said.

Gillock added that he has received "a fair amount of emails" and almost all of them are in favor of the project.